Port project expands beyond berthing

Environmental Impact Assessment complete

The proposal to build a new port facility in George Town now includes more than just two cruise berthing piers.

Back-bench legislator Cline Glidden Jr., who heads the Ministerial Council for Tourism, confirmed Wednesday that the project scope is expanding.

“The government is now looking at much more than just two piers,” he said. “We’re looking at building something that will make Cayman more of a destination than just creating berthing piers.”

Although Mr. Glidden said he could not be more specific about how the proposal had expanded, he commented earlier this week that the project was “about $200 million”, which is some $50 million more than it was announced to cost when the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Dart Enterprises Construction Company – better known as DECCO – in April.

Unconfirmed reports suggest, however, that the project will now include a ‘mega yacht’ marina.

With regard to DECCO, Mr. Glidden dismissed rumours that the construction company had dropped out of the negotiations for a final contract. He said the delay in reaching a final agreement after signing a Memorandum of Understanding in April was due to the complexity of the negotiations.

“We’re committed to getting this done,” he said. “We’re happy with the progress that’s been made.”

One element of progress DECCO has completed is the required environmental impact assessment report.

DECCO was selected as the development partner last November and has commissioned studies and investigations required for the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. According to a press release issued on behalf of the government Wednesday, that report and the investigation work were completed by the C. D. Howe Company – of Canada and Cayman – and the Danish Hydraulics Institute, assisted by specialist subcontractors.

“The [Environmental Impact Assessment] included the analysis of existing data and studies and a large number of special investigations and studies, computer simulations, surveys, etc., with respect to the Project site and areas affected,” the press release stated.

The addition of a new element of the project would help the financial feasibility for the developer. Premier McKeeva Bush has said in the past that the Cayman Islands would not have to pay for the construction of the berthing facility and that the developer would fund the project. An agreement with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association to pay a certain fee for every cruise passenger that comes to port would help guarantee repayment to the developer.

However, those fees would not be enough to amortise repayment of a $150 million to $200 million project over a reasonable amount of time.

Mr. Glidden said that the revenue generated by the new elements of the project would help offset the development costs.

Assuming a final agreement can be reached fairly soon, it is hoped that construction on the project could start before the end of this year, Mr. Glidden said, adding that it would take up to 24 months to complete the project. The government is still hopeful it can open the new cruise berthing facility in time to open it at the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s annual conference in November 2012.

Mr. Glidden said all the stakeholders involved “share the view that the direction, which should be taken with cruise tourism, is to go forward guided by a commitment to be environmentally responsible, economically viable; a direction which gives priority to national interests and local businesses and ultimately, one which protects Cayman’s leadership position by creating a ‘destination within a destination.”

1 COMMENT

While the government certainly makes money from per passenger berthing fees, their own studies show that cruise ship tourist spend relatively little on island as compared to land based customers. And if the new berthing facility affects in anyway the coral reefs and Seven Mile Beach, you can write this island off as a desirable vacation destination!

Since land based tourist spend more, maybe the focus should be on improving the airport facility to accommodate larger planes, pre-clearance outgoing US immigration, more affordable hotel properties and the like to encourage the more desirable tourists.

I am beginning to believe that the great environmental champion nations of the Western World are a bunch of hypocrites!

They tirelessly campaign for the blue whale, polar bear, natural resources, shorelines, rain forests, national reserve parks etc. (The UK and Europe has HUNDREDS of MILES of PROTECTED SHORELINE, at times extending for up to 5 – 10 miles inland, upon which one cannot erect as much as a portable toilet!)

However, TOURIST DESTINATIONS of the Caribbean, Asia and South America are under CONSTANT destruction, dredging and "development" – all on the behalf (according to the cruise / travel corporations) of its citizens.

I can see it now. George Town central and the entire port closed to haul away all the debris from the mega yacht marina and berths that have washed up into and clogged the streets after a major storm. Not to mention what washes out to see and ashore again on SMB and South Sound!!! Gimme Dolla, Gimme Dolla!!!!!

CayCompass: The proposal to build a new port facility in George Town now includes more than just two cruise berthing piers. Back-bench legislator Cline Glidden Jr., who heads the Ministerial Council for Tourism, confirmed Wednesday that the project scope is expanding…

My concern Glidden is that if the project scope is expanding and you have left it to the developer to fund the project with the assurance that an agreement with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association to pay a certain fee for every cruise passenger that comes to port would help guarantee repayment to the developer. My question to you and the Premier, what if we are UNABLE to repay DECCO over a reasonable amount of time?

Editor’s note: This comment had to be edited for legal reasons. We ask readers to please not make defamatory statements about individuals.

This dock isn’t going to be an environmental disaster people. If you look at ANY dock. It creates habitates for juvenile fish. crustacians and other sea life.

Where there is no coral, the dock will provide these fish and marine life with a home. And in turn they will grow up, make babies and that dock will be thier home.

Not to mention the increased revenue it will bring to the government and the people. As one poster said. Tourism doens’t bring in as much cash as the stay on island tourist. Maybe so. But do you think it’s the stay on the island tourist that keeps those water front open? hmmmmmm.

good god. Do we always yell "the sky is falling" without thinking about the positives first.